Florida Judge in Courthouse Brawl is a Retired Army Reserve Colonel

We tend to use battle metaphors when we talk about court cases — legal fights erupt, arguments are launched and lawyers clash.

In a courtroom Monday in east central Florida, no such figures of speech were needed. A fight — apparently, with real punches — broke out between a Brevard County judge and a public defender when an argument at a hearing spun out of control.

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